Solomons' govt to declare public holiday for RAMSI farewell

Thursday will be a public holiday in Solomon Islands as the government marks the end of the 14-year regional assistance mission.

Government workers have been told it's compulsory for them to attend three of the main ceremonies being held next week, and the whole country will have 29 June off.

The Australian-led state building mission was deployed to Solomon Islands in 2003 to end five years of ethnic fighting which had killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands.

The Solomons' government's special secretary to RAMSI, John Wasi, said the week of events is the country's way of saying thank you to the region for helping a friend in need.

"I think the region must also be applauded for taking this partnership with the Solomon Islands government, with RAMSI and also more importantly to the contributing countries to RAMSI over the past 14 years.

"This country needs to be united and be tolerant and this country needs moving forward on common ground which is peace, stability and development."

Meanwhile, the country's parliament will convene for a special session on Tuesday for the tabling of RAMSI's end of mission report, which details its 14 years of work

 

Photo: UNDP Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare at UN facilitated talks about building confidence as RAMSI goes.